All Questions
13,944 questions
21
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Density of polynomials in $C^k(\overline\Omega)$
Let $\Omega$ be an open and bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ and let $C^k(\Omega)$, $1\leq k<\infty$, be the space of functions $f$ with continuous derivatives of order $\leq k$ in $\Omega$, ...
- 4,034
21
votes
1
answer
939
views
Is Grothendieck classification of tensor norms and Kuratowski's 14 sets theorem somehow related?
It is known that there are only 14 reasonable tensor norms in $Ban$. On the other hand it is well known fact for topologists that one can obtain only 14 different sets from a given set applying ...
- 1,697
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
In a Banach algebra, do ab and ba have almost the same exponential spectrum?
Let $A$ be a complex Banach algebra with identity 1. Define the exponential spectrum $e(x)$ of an element $x\in A$ by $$e(x)= \{\lambda\in\mathbb{C}: x-\lambda1 \notin G_1(A)\},$$ where $G_1(A)$ is ...
- 2,154
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
"Minimal" group C*-algebra?
Let $\Gamma$ be a discrete group (though this could be asked for general locally compact groups) and consider the Banach $*$-algebra $\ell^1(\Gamma)$. We have two natural $C^*$-algebra completions: ...
- 18.7k
21
votes
2
answers
981
views
What is the optimal speed to approach a red light?
Suppose from distance $d$, while driving at speed $v_0$, I notice that there's a red traffic light in front of me. Suppose that there are no other vehicles, my vehicle has perfect brakes, my maximum ...
- 18.9k
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Uncertainty principle and Cramer-Rao bound - is there relation?
Just out of curiosity.
The two things sounds a little bit similar - 1) Uncertainty principle 2) Cramer-Rao bound.
Saying that we cannot measure something with certain accuracy.
However looking closer ...
- 24.9k
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does summing divergent series using cutoff functions give consistent results?
One way to try to give a value $S$ to a divergent series $\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n$ is with a smooth cutoff function:
$$
S = \lim_{N\to\infty}\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n \eta\left(\frac{n}{N}\right)
$$
where $\...
- 313
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Meager subspaces of a Banach space and weak-* convergence
I previously asked a version of this question on Math.SE, but didn't receive an answer. (But there is a bounty there if you want to claim it!)
Let $X$ be a Banach space. (If it helps, feel free to ...
- 29.8k
21
votes
1
answer
840
views
Relative null-ness
Here, "measure" always means Lebesgue measure on $\mathbb{R}$. This question is partly motivated by my answer https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1444498/is-there-a-categorizaiton-system-for-null-...
- 20.9k
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
A strange variant of the Gaussian log-Sobolev inequality
Let $\phi : \mathbb{R}^d \to \mathbb{R}$ be a convex function, and assume that it grows at most linearly at infinity for simplicity. Denote by $\gamma$ the standard Gaussian measure on $\mathbb{R}^d$, ...
- 562
21
votes
1
answer
564
views
Partitions of ${\rm Sym}(\mathbb{N})$ induced by convergent, but not absolutely convergent series
Let $(a_n) \subset \mathbb{R}$ be a sequence such that the series
$\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n$ converges, but does not converge absolutely.
Then there is a partition of the symmetric group ${\rm Sym}(\...
- 19.6k
21
votes
0
answers
658
views
A multiple integral
Let us consider the multiple integral
$$I_{n}=\int_{-\infty }^{\infty }ds_{1}\int_{-\infty}^{s_{1}}ds_{2}\cdots
\int_{-\infty }^{s_{2n-1}}ds_{2n}\;\cos {(s_{1}^{2}-s_{2}^{2})}\;\cdots
\cos {(s_{2n-1}...
- 16.5k
21
votes
0
answers
869
views
Noncommutative arithmetic mean geometric mean inequality and symmetric polynomials
While analyzing convergence speed of stochastic-gradient methods for convex optimization problems, Recht et al (2011) posed a tantalizing conjecture. It seems quite tricky, so after having struggled a ...
- 28.6k
21
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Almost everywhere differentiability for a class of functions on $\mathbb{R}^2$
A while ago, I came across the following problem, which I was not able to resolve one way or the other.
Let $f,g\colon\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}$ be continuous functions such that $f(t,x)$ and $g(t,...
- 17.1k
21
votes
0
answers
732
views
Closed connected additive subgroups of the Hilbert space
It is a classical result that a closed and connected additive subgroup of $\mathbb{R}^n$ is necessarily a linear subspace. However, this is no longer true in infinite dimension: a very easy example is ...
- 60.5k
21
votes
0
answers
876
views
Are the eigenvalues of the Laplacian of a generic Kähler metric simple?
It is a theorem of Uhlenbeck that for a generic Riemannian metric, the Laplacian acting on functions has simple eigenvalues, i.e., all the eigenspaces are 1-dimensional. (Here "generic" means the set ...
- 6,247
20
votes
12
answers
9k
views
The role of completeness in Hilbert Spaces
Why do Hilbert spaces have to be complete?
I've been studying (teaching myself about) Hilbert spaces for a while now as they have a habit of popping up in many of the papers I'm come across (I'm a ...
- 661
20
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Why do infinite-dimensional vector spaces usually have additional structure?
On Mathematics Stack Exchange, I asked the following question: Why are infinite-dimensional vector spaces usually equipped with additional structure? Although it received one good answer, I feel that ...
- 961
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is $1/F$ Schwartz if $F$ is "reverse Schwartz"?
Let's call a positive function $F:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ "reverse Schwartz" if $F$ is smooth and
$$\forall n \forall k,\quad\lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{|x|^n}{|\partial_x^k F(x)|}=0\quad .$$
In ...
- 23.3k
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What is the origin of the term "spectrum" in mathematics?
The use of the term "spectrum" to denote the prime ideals of a ring originates from the case that the ring is, say, $\mathbb{C}[T]$ where $T$ is a linear operator on a finite-dimensional vector space; ...
- 118k
20
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Does the derivative of log have a Dirac delta term?
Dirac writes down the following formula on page 61 of his "Principles of quantum mechanics":
$\frac{d}{dx}\log x = \frac{1}{x} -i\pi\delta(x)$, see http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1947pqm..book.....D ...
- 16.6k
20
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Realizing universal $C^*$-algebras as concrete $C^*$-algebras
How do I in general realize a universal C*-algebra generated by some generators and relation as concrete C*-algebras? For example, I know that universal C*-algebra generated by a single unitary is $C(\...
- 493
20
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Non-differentiable Lipschitz functions
As far as I understand, there are Lipschitz functions $f:\mathbb{R}\to\ell^\infty$ that are nowhere differentiable in the Frechet sense. Where can I find such an example?
- 28k
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Basis of l^infinity
Is it possible to exhibit a (Hamel) basis for the vector space l^infinity, given by the bounded sequences of real numbers?
- 1,638
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
P-adic C* algebras
I understand that there is a definition of p-adic Banach algebras and that a significant amount of functional analysis can be developed in the non-archimedean setting. Is there a p-adic version of C*-...
- 373
20
votes
1
answer
754
views
Minimum value of $|p(1)|^2+|p(2)|^2 +...+ |p(n+3)|^2$ over all monic polynomials $p$
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Determine the smallest possible value of $|p(1)|^2+|p(2)|^2 +...+ |p(n+3)|^2$ over all monic polynomials $p$ of degree $n$.
This question was proposed (problem A.611)
...
- 3,153
20
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Ideals of the ring of smooth functions
The ring $C^\infty(M)$ of smooth functions on a smooth manifold $M$ is a topological ring with respect to the Whitney topology and the usual ring operations. Is it possible to describe, maybe under ...
- 101
20
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Why do inner products require conjugation?
For Hermitian matrices and operators, the most "natural" inner product is $f^H \cdot g$ or $\int f^* g\; dx$. A similar situation holds interpreting Fourier transforms as the inner product of ...
- 757
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can There be a 1 dimensional Banach-Tarski paradox in the absence of choice
Let $\mathbb{R}$ act on itself by translation. Then there is no finite decomposition of a unit interval into pieces which, when translated, yields two distinct unit intervals.
More formally does ...
- 545
20
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Question about functional derivatives
This page on Wikipedia defines the so-called functional derivative as follows: "Given a manifold $M$ representing (continuous/smooth) functions $\rho$ (with certain boundary conditions, etc.) and a ...
- 3,515
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Propositions equivalent to the completeness of the real numbers
Can anyone point me to a reasonably comprehensive article (or book chapter) explaining which basic theorems of calculus are equivalent to the completeness axiom of the reals and which ones aren't?
...
- 19.7k
20
votes
2
answers
870
views
C$^*$-algebras isomorphic after tensoring with $M_n(\mathbb C)$
In 1977, Joan Plastiras gave a striking example of two non $*$-isomorphic C$^*$-algebras $\mathcal A$ and $\mathcal B$ such that $$\mathcal A \otimes M_2(\mathbb C) \simeq \mathcal B\otimes M_2(\...
- 3,984
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Convergence of convex functions
I can prove the following result.
Theorem 1. Let $f_n:\mathbb{R}^n\to \mathbb{R}$ be a sequence of convex functions
that converges almost everywhere to a function $f:\mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}$.
Then ...
- 28k
20
votes
3
answers
1k
views
mixing convex and concave for convexity
Let $n\in\mathbb{N}$ and $0<x<1$ be a real number. Is the following a convex function of $x$?
$$G_n(x)=\log\left(\frac{(1+x^{4n+1})(1+x^{4n-1})(1+x^{2n})(1-x^{2n+1})}{(1+x^{2n+1})(1-x^{2n+2})}\...
- 43.2k
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
a determinantal identity
Dusan Pokorny and Jan Rataj have just posted a paper (http://arxiv.org/abs/1209.2305) in which they prove the identity
$$
\det (A-B) = \frac 1{d!} \sum_{k=0}^d (-1)^k \binom dk \det((d-k)A + kB)
$$
...
- 340
20
votes
1
answer
807
views
Is every function $f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ differentiable at at least one point when restricted to some everywhere dense subset of $\mathbb R$?
I was doing some fairly simple research a few hours ago and I almost asked a similar question with the word continuous instead of differentiable in the title, but then I found this question asked by ...
user153451
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How rich is the richest person in a society satisfying the Pareto principle?
The Pareto Principle roughly states that in many societies, the top 20% of people hold over 80% of the wealth. Suppose we had a society that satisfied this principle in every stratum of society - how ...
- 6,215
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The Gelfand duality for pro-$C^*$-algebras
The Gelfand duality says that
$$X\to C(X)$$
is a contravariant equivalence between the category of compact Hausdorff spaces and continuous maps and the category of commutative unital $C^*$-algebras ...
- 1,344
20
votes
1
answer
993
views
Which spaces are characterized by functions with compact support ?
It's well known that two locally compact Hausdorff spaces $X, Y$ are homeomorphic iff the rings $C_0(X), C_0(Y)$ (continuous functions vanishing at infinity) are isomorphic.
Is there a class $\...
- 16.2k
20
votes
1
answer
686
views
Can all partial sums $\sum_{k=1}^n f(ka)$ where $f(x)=\log|2\sin(x/2)|$ be non-negative?
Let $f(x)=\log|2\sin(x/2)|$ (the normalizing factor $2$ is chosen to have the average over the period equal to $0$). Does there exist $a>0$ such that all sums $\sum_{k=1}^n f(ak)\ge 0$? The ...
- 61.9k
20
votes
1
answer
518
views
Concept associated to the Eudoxus reals
I am aware of three different constructions of the field of real numbers :
The Cauchy sequence construction : in this case, we see the field $\mathbb{Q}$ as a metric space and $\mathbb{R}$ is the ...
- 201
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Do convex and decreasing functions preserve the semimartingale property?
Some time ago I spent a lot of effort trying to show that the semimartingale property is preserved by certain functions. Specifically, that a convex function of a semimartingale and decreasing ...
- 17.1k
20
votes
2
answers
922
views
A functional inequality about log-concave functions
Let $f,g$ be smooth even log-concave functions on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$, i.e.,$f=e^{-F(x)}, g=e^{-G(x)}$ for some even convex functions $F(x),G(x)$. Is it true that:
$$
\int_{\mathbb{R}^{n}} \langle \...
- 3,946
20
votes
0
answers
634
views
Is $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n!}{n^n}$ rational?
Is $\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n!}{n^n}$ rational?
This question has been posted in MSE for two years without an answer. A094082 seems to suggest that it is not rational. Is it still an ...
user14319
19
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Strange result about convexity
$f \in C^2([0,1])$ with $f''$ convex and $f(0) = f'(0) = f''(0) = 0$.
Is it true that : $f''(1)+6f(1)\geq 4f'(1)$ ?
Source: AoPS
- 4,074
19
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Unbounded operator bounded in a dense subset
Let $X, Y$ be normed vector spaces, where $X$ is infinite dimensional. Does there exist a linear map $T : X \rightarrow Y$ and a subset $D$ of $X$ such that $D$ is dense in $X$, $T$ is bounded in $D$ (...
- 783
19
votes
4
answers
12k
views
How did Bernoulli prove L'Hôpital's rule?
To prove L'Hôpital's rule, the standard method is to use use Cauchy's Mean Value Theorem (and note that once you have Cauchy's MVT, you don't need an $\epsilon$-$\delta$ definition of limit to ...
- 4,254
19
votes
3
answers
1k
views
functions from Q to itself with derivative zero
Let $f: {\bf Q} \rightarrow {\bf Q}$ be a "${\bf Q}$-differentiable" function whose "${\bf Q}$-derivative" is constantly zero; that is, for all $x \in {\bf Q}$ and all $\epsilon > 0$ in ${\bf Q}$, ...
- 19.7k
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Solutions-set first order ODE's without uniqueness
In short: What can we say about the set of all solutions of an ordinary differential equation (ODE) when we there is no uniqueness?
Consider the ODE
$f:D\to \mathbb{R}, \quad D\subseteq \mathbb{R}^2,$
...
- 3,574
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can we take a supremum over all Hilbert spaces?
In my paper On the optimal error bound for the first step in the method of cyclic alternating projections, I defined functions $f_n:[0,1]\to\mathbb{R}$,
$n\geqslant 2$, by
$$
f_n(c)=\sup\{\|P_n\dotsm ...
- 935